Mentoring Programs (K(2008))

Contents

Professional Assocation Programs

ASCLA (Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies)
This mentoring program seems to currently be inactive or possibly so newly formed that very little information is available. However, they have created a set of well-defined purposes for the program. There appears to be no online application or greater information available online. They are planning on marketing this program via information packets sent to all new members of the organization.

ALA NMRT (American Library Association New Member Round Table) Mentoring Committee
As one of the largest mentoring programs available to new librarians, the mentoring committee of the NMRT has been well conceived. They are highly visible through information packets, websites, booths, magazine articles and mailers to new librarians as well as new members of the ALA. There is a great deal of information available via the NMRT website such as the mentoring guidelines and the organization plans a number activities such as online discussions, Conference Mentoring, and career mentoring. Also available is an online application for both mentors and mentorees in order to ensure that both group’s needs are met. They have devised a committee within the organization that ensures that the program is maintained and marketed.

ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries)
A significant number of sections of the ACRL provide mentoring programs to new members in order to allow the sharing of professional expertise, and to share advise about professional development. Most committees provide a forum for online discussions and most provide all of their information is available online as well as the application for both the mentors and the mentorees. However, with so many subcommittees and sections of the ACRL with independent mentoring programs there seems to be little to no consistency concerning the depth and scope of each of the mentoring programs or the involvement of mentor/mentorees in the greater organization. It also appears that with such micro specialization that very little would be learned about the ACRL organization as a whole, thus leaving out the potential for expansion into other regions of the ACRL. It would be my opinion that such disjointed mentor programs would not serve to benefit of ACRL.

YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association)
While searching the YALSA information, it does appear that they do or did provide a mentoring program. There is discussion of the creation of a mentoring program in 2004, however, any greater or in depth information regarding the program is difficult to find. A previous Emerging Leaders group K developed a plan for YALSA as well as AASL for the creation of a mentoring program and their findings should be further researched as they are highly well developed.

SLA
SLA's PAM division has a mentoring program. They have "regular" long term mentoring as well as a "conference buddy" program. Also of interest: The Mentorship Handbook: A Guide for SLA Chapters and Divisions to Establish Mentorship Programs, Special Libraries Association (11p pdf).

MLA (Medical Library Association)
They have a mentoring program with a searchable mentor database, though I couldn't get any results from it when searching (maybe they just don't have a lot of volunteers).

State Association Programs

Must be a member. 7 month program (Nov – May). Applications Aug – Oct.
Nice Protégé and mentor guideline documents and also two separate applications at the site which can be submitted online by email.

Connecticut: They use to have a program, but it has been discontinued due to low use.

New Jersey: Formal program with a Meet and Greet at the NJ Annual Conference. Online pdf applications also requesting a resume from both Mentor and Mentee. One year in length. Formal start and end dates not listed. Guidelines for participation are available. http://www.njla.org/committees/professional_dev/mentoring.html

students and recent alumni learn successful strategies to support their career goals

Simmons College

lists about 50 alumni mentors and each semester students are contacted about whether they want a mentor

mentees complete a form and the Assistant Dean for Student Administrative Services then matches them with a mentor

students have access to a hard copy of the mentors profiles and they can make the match

bring mentored students together to discuss an mentoring issues

University of Alabama

formal/informal mentor activities

Library School Association (alumni group)sponsors a Mentoring Day each fall and spring term

panel presentation to current students to discuss various branches of librarianship and to inform students of professional activities and career paths

Alumni also attend activities on campus including Alumni Day and Honors Day to network with current students

students are encouraged to take advantage of mentoring opportunities through local and national professional organizations including Alabama Library Association (ALLA), ALA, ASIS&T, SLA, Alabama Health Sciences Library Association (ALHeLA) and MLA

University of Alberta

formal/informal mentor activities

student-organized Professional Development Day that features keynote speakers, student research presentations, and other presentations by local professionals

LIS 590 Practicum, which provides students with 100 hours of supervised experience in a local organization such as archives, libraries, or records management

students assigned a faculty advisor/supervisor, with whom they must discuss their program of studies each semester

a student-organized half- to full-day spent with a local professional with job shadowing and professional development activities

University of Chicago
LAMP Partner Network

University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
LAMP Partner Network

University of Iowa
LAMP Partner Network

University of Michigan
LAMP Partner Network

University of Rhode Island

URI GSLIS has teamed with the Rhode Island Library Association on an annual mentoring event

students hear from committed professionals who love what they're doing in a number of different specialties

students meet and greet, making connections with mentors

students are reimbursed up to $35 of any student's first-year membership in a professional association of his or her choice

also offers a fieldwork placement course for which we encourage our MLIS to participate

encourage students to be active in various professional organizations and societies

Wayne State University
LAMP Partner Network

INFORMAL PROGRAMS **

State University of New York-Albany

several university library faculty offer to provide mentoring to current MSIS students

school makes this list available to the student association

student groups (student chapters of professional organizations) organize programs to bring practicing local professionals in for career panels and informational sessions

departmental student association (IS-SA) provides a peer mentoring program to match up incoming students with experienced students in the same concentration

mandatory internship program in which students form relationships with one or more mentors in their placement sites (mentors must have appropriate degree qualifications)

frequent guest speakers in graduate classes, the local chapter of Beta Phi Mu which provides resume review and interviewing guidance, and an ongoing relationship with the New York State library in which students are hired as student assistants to work in the various departments of the library